Distribution of fluopyram and tebuconazole in pomegranate tissues and their risk assessment

Abstract

Residue distribution of fluopyram and tebuconazole was assessed in pomegranate whole fruit, aril, outer peel (pericarp), inner peel (mesocarp) and leaves. The method LOQ of fluopyram and tebuconazole were 0.01 and 0.02 mg kg−1, respectively. Both fungicides remained in fruit peel and residues in edible aril were < LOQ. In fruit peel major portion of the fungicides remained on pericarp with minimal movement to mesocarp. In mesocarp fluopyram was 5.7–14.2%; tebuconazole, 7.5–14.4% of the residues in pericarp. Terminal residues of fluopyram and tebuconazole in pomegranate whole fruit were 0.037–0.094 and 0.036–0.096 mg kg−1. Half-life of fluopyram in pomegranate fruit and leaves were 7.3–9.1 and 15 days; tebuconazole, 8–10.3 and 11.2–12.6 days, respectively. Pre-harvest intervals for treatment of combination formulation of fluopyram and tebuconazole, were 47–59 days in fruits, 158–173 in leaves. Dietary risk assessment demonstrated that consumption of peel and leaves may pose risk to human health, whereas fruit consumption was considered safe.